Volume Turned Up For Big Hit At College World Series In Omaha
By Ray Waddell
Monday, June 15 1998
Monday, June 15 1998
Published on AllBusiness.com
The College Baseball World Series, held for the 49th consecutive year at Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, brought big business to Volume Services, with per capita spending up 20% from last year at $5.02 a head.
"It was our best year ever," said Chris Benevento, on-site general manager for Volume at Rosenblatt. "Per caps were up, sales were up, everything was up."
Attendance for the May 29-June 6 event averaged about 22,000 per game at the 24,000-capacity Rosenblatt. The stadium played host to eight games the first five days, and a total of 13, culminating in the championship game between Southern Cal and Arizona State on June 6. Benevento said that the reason Volume was able to capitalize on the crowds was increased efficiency of operation.
"We were able to take a lot of things we learned from past years and convert them into positive ways to move product for the great crowds we get," Benevento told AB. "We were able to speed up service with increased points of sale. We had a great system for setting up the stands so as not to run out of anything. We were able to stock the stands and put our warehouse guys to rest."
The nature of the CWS led to smooth, steady service. "The nice part of it was it works out as an all-day event and you're not slammed in a three-hour period," said Benevento. "Business is spread out over an eight- or nine-hour event day. You have people not for one but two meals, so you keep them in the stadium looking for different options."
OMAHA EATS
Options were plentiful. For the 1998 CWS Volume's Rosenblatt Grilles featured the CWS Combo Meals, a third-pound char-broiled burger or quarter-pound grilled hot dog with fries and a soda for $6. "The Combo Meals sold real well in our outfield locations," said Benevento. "It was a great perceived value, particularly for the people who planned on being at the stadium for a long time."
The Pizza Works stand offered garlic cheesebread, actually three five-inch hoagie buns with garlic and cheese for $2.25, and seven-inch French bread pizzas for $2.75, both of which sold in equal numbers, Benevento said.
"We did three grill locations, outdoor visual grilles, where we cooked the big meat like sausages and hot dogs," he said. "The most successful item of the series had to be the Johnsonville's Sheboygen bratwurst. We put a nine-inch Sheboygen brat on a six-and-a-half inch bun, with hot peppers and onions piled on top, and they just flew out. They're beautiful."
Benevento said they averaged 925 of the Sheboygen brats per day at $4 each. "They are the best product to come along in a while, the hit of the Series," he said. "We're trying to get them into as
"It was our best year ever," said Chris Benevento, on-site general manager for Volume at Rosenblatt. "Per caps were up, sales were up, everything was up."
Attendance for the May 29-June 6 event averaged about 22,000 per game at the 24,000-capacity Rosenblatt. The stadium played host to eight games the first five days, and a total of 13, culminating in the championship game between Southern Cal and Arizona State on June 6. Benevento said that the reason Volume was able to capitalize on the crowds was increased efficiency of operation.
"We were able to take a lot of things we learned from past years and convert them into positive ways to move product for the great crowds we get," Benevento told AB. "We were able to speed up service with increased points of sale. We had a great system for setting up the stands so as not to run out of anything. We were able to stock the stands and put our warehouse guys to rest."
The nature of the CWS led to smooth, steady service. "The nice part of it was it works out as an all-day event and you're not slammed in a three-hour period," said Benevento. "Business is spread out over an eight- or nine-hour event day. You have people not for one but two meals, so you keep them in the stadium looking for different options."
OMAHA EATS
Options were plentiful. For the 1998 CWS Volume's Rosenblatt Grilles featured the CWS Combo Meals, a third-pound char-broiled burger or quarter-pound grilled hot dog with fries and a soda for $6. "The Combo Meals sold real well in our outfield locations," said Benevento. "It was a great perceived value, particularly for the people who planned on being at the stadium for a long time."
The Pizza Works stand offered garlic cheesebread, actually three five-inch hoagie buns with garlic and cheese for $2.25, and seven-inch French bread pizzas for $2.75, both of which sold in equal numbers, Benevento said.
"We did three grill locations, outdoor visual grilles, where we cooked the big meat like sausages and hot dogs," he said. "The most successful item of the series had to be the Johnsonville's Sheboygen bratwurst. We put a nine-inch Sheboygen brat on a six-and-a-half inch bun, with hot peppers and onions piled on top, and they just flew out. They're beautiful."
Benevento said they averaged 925 of the Sheboygen brats per day at $4 each. "They are the best product to come along in a while, the hit of the Series," he said. "We're trying to get them into as